WAR GOD : Rise After Betrayal

Chapter 15

Chapter 15

Elara’s car stopped right in front of the main building of Cole Group. The tall glass-covered structure looked the same as usual, but today it felt far more oppressive.

Elara stepped out first. Her face was calm, but her stride was firm. Ares and Tom followed behind her, Tom carrying the folder and tablet he had routinely held since accompanying Elara.

“Today’s agenda focuses on Project Athena,” Elara said as they walked toward the entrance. “I don’t want any other discussions for now.”

Tom nodded. “Understood, Miss.”

Inside the meeting room on the upper floor, several directors were already waiting. Their expressions were serious. Some even looked tense.

Elara took the main seat. “Let’s begin.”

One of the directors opened the presentation. “As we discussed previously, Project Athena has experienced a six-week delay. Operational costs have surged, while progress on the ground has not been proportional.”

Elara interlaced her fingers. “Technically, this project is still very feasible.”

“That’s correct,” another director replied. “The issue is not the concept or the technology, but the flow of funds.”

Elara looked at the screen. “Explain.”

“So after an investigation, several funding allocations were disbursed but never reached the main vendors,” he answered. “However, on paper, everything appears legitimate.”

“That means there is internal sabotage,” Elara concluded. “Just as we suspected before.”

The room fell silent.

“I have ordered an internal audit,” Elara continued. “Starting today. All related divisions will be re-examined. No exceptions.”

A middle-aged man at the end of the table cleared his throat. “Miss Elara, the board of commissioners has made a decision.”

Elara turned to him. “What decision?”

“As discussed some time ago, you have been given one week,” he said carefully. “If Project Athena cannot be saved or the root of the problem is not found, you will be asked to resign from your position as CEO of Cole Group.”

Ares, standing behind Elara, frowned slightly.

Elara remained calm. “I understand.”

“I hope you are truly serious,” the man added. “This is not a personal threat. This is the board’s decision.”

“Very well,” Elara replied briefly. “Meeting adjourned.”

One by one, the directors left. The room grew quiet, leaving only Elara and Ares.

Elara leaned back in her chair. “One week,” she murmured. “A very short amount of time.”

Ares stood silently. His eyes were fixed on the screen that still displayed the financial report.

“Miss,” he said softly.

“Yes?”

“May I look at the data in more detail?”

Elara glanced at Ares. “Do you understand this?”

Ares hesitated for a moment. “Not completely. But… I feel that something is off.”

Elara let out a breath. “Go ahead.”

Ares stepped closer to the table. He stared at the screen, then closed his eyes briefly. His breath was held.

Inside his mind, fragments of numbers, fund flows, and the project structure arranged themselves effortlessly. Too clear.

“This isn’t a random leak,” he said suddenly.

Elara turned quickly. “What do you mean?”

Ares opened his eyes. “The funds were diverted in layers. Deliberately made to look like additional operational costs.”

He pointed at the screen. “Look at this entry. A shadow vendor. The name is almost identical to the real vendor, just one letter different.”

Elara stood up. “That passed the initial audit.”

“Because the audit looked at totals, not patterns,” Ares replied.

He stepped closer to Elara’s chair, then unconsciously pulled it slightly back and sat down in front of the laptop.

“Ares!” Elara snapped reflexively. “That’s improper.”

Ares came to his senses and turned quickly. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean—”

“Stand up,” Elara ordered firmly.

But Ares had already opened the reporting system. His fingers moved quickly across the keyboard.

“If I’m wrong, I’ll leave immediately,” he said. “But give me five minutes.”

Elara fell silent. Her jaw tightened. “Five minutes.”

Ares nodded. “Thank you.”

He typed rapidly. The screen shifted again and again. Several hidden files opened.

“Here,” Ares said, pointing. “The funds never left the company. They were circulated through intermediary accounts, then frozen.”

Elara moved closer without realizing it. “Why were they frozen?”

“Because the perpetrator is waiting for the project to truly fail,” Ares answered. “After that, the funds can be released without suspicion.”

Elara stared at the screen. “This… this level of detail has never appeared in any report.”

Ares turned to her. “Because the one making the reports is also involved.”

Elara fell silent for a long time.

“Who?” she finally asked.

Ares shook his head. “I can’t be certain yet. But the trail points to one division.”

Elara took a deep breath. “You just solved the core issue of Project Athena.”

Ares stood up from the chair. “I apologize about earlier.”

Elara looked at him intently. “No. Forget it.”

She looked back at the screen. “There’s only one thing I want to know now.”

Ares waited.

“How were you able to see all of this in just minutes?” Elara asked softly.

Ares fell silent. His hand clenched lightly.

“I… don’t know either,” he answered honestly.

Elara did not respond immediately. But this time, the way she looked at Ares had changed.